New Map Pack Explodes Onto Gears 2 News

Gears of War 2 has only been out for five weeks, but that hasn't meant that Epic Games has been resting on its laurels since then.  Today, the first piece of downloadable content has been released on Xbox Live following a sneak peak during last night's Spike VGAs in the US.  Well, the second piece if you include the 'Flashback' map pack bundled with the the Gears 2 box.

Featuring three new maps, the 'Combustible' map pack is available for 800 Microsoft Points (£6.80), and takes gamers into a fresh series of battles against the Locust in Horde mode, or each other:

Flood is a very tight map that's made extra snug when the environmental hazard of Imulsion begins creeping up around the edges. As the playing field closes in, the firefight will intensify as combat is forced to the center of the map. Teams skilled at flanking their opponents will have a powerful edge.

Gold Rush takes place in an old Imulsion refinery that now serves as a hotly contested battleground. Players must survive heavy crossfire as they infiltrate the factory and navigate multiple tiers. Breakable glass allows for a clean shot at those who make a dash for the Longshot rifle while bolder players make their run for the heavy weapon. In the right hands, the Mortar can be devastating on this map, so keep those smoke grenades armed as the concussive effect comes in very handy.

Fuel Station is situated in a desolate area marked by an abandoned fossil fuel station. The team that secures and controls the station is likely to be the side that wins the match. An especially strategic location on this map is the rooftop, as there are only two points of entry – the main elevator and a staircase on the back side of the building. Heavy weaponry is situated right in front, which presents a high risk to reward ratio in this level. Lugging the Mulcher around, deploying it and revving it up can keep an entire team at bay, and unleashing hell from the rooftops is always an excellent tactic.